October marks the launch of a new campaign from TyreSafe, who are asking: are you having a good or bad air day? It’s an odd question, but here’s why they are asking it.

Research conducted by TyreSafe in 2016 revealed that 57% of vehicles on UK roads are travelling with tyres inflated below recommended pressures. This equates to motorists spending up to £600 million on wasted fuel every year. A more pressing issue is that all these underinflated tyres increase the risk of skidding, blowouts and many other automotive hazards.

October is the tyre safety charity’s official Tyre Safety Month and they’ll be rolling out an enormous campaign to major MOT centres, online media and in print. So, are you having a bad air day? It’s time to check your car’s tyres, stay safe and save some money.

Tyre Inflation Facts

35% of tyres are used at least 8psi below the manufacturer’s recommended inflation pressure

The air pressure in your tyres influences the efficiency of your car’s acceleration, braking and cornering

You use 3% more fuel when your tyres are 6psi below the recommended pressure

Underinflation and tyre wear are proportional – for every 10% a tyre is underinflated, the tyre wear increases 10%

£600 million a year is wasted on fuel used up by inefficiency caused by under inflated tyres

57% of all car and van tyres in the UK are 4psi or more below recommended pressure

How to Check Your Tyre Pressure

Here’s a quick and simple way to check your car’s tyres have the recommended amount of air in them:

Remove the dustcap on the air valve by unscrewing it; keep it somewhere safe like a pocket

Place a tyre pressure gauge (an inexpensive tool used to measure PSI) onto the valve and push down to get a reading on the gauge

Repeat step 2 a couple of times to get an accurate reading; it’s worth repeating this three times in case the gauge has not been pressed onto the valve correctly

Check the PSI reading and compare it to the vehicle’s recommended PSI

If the PSI reading is above the recommended pressure, simply depress the stork inside the valve using a screwdriver and this will let out some air; repeat step 2 and compare the PSI again

If the PSI is under the recommended pressure, fill your tyre with air using an electric pump with an attached gauge; these are an inexpensive car maintenance tool that make filling your tyres with air very easy

Information about the TyreSafe study

TyreSafe’s study used data from the Department for Transport and Michelin’s Fill Up With Air data which was compiled over the course of 8 years. The figure for wasted fuel was calculated using the average fuel price of £1.21 per litre.

Universal Tyres is the number one supplier and fitter of tyres for every kind of vehicle especially in Chelmsford, Colchester, Greenwich, Ipswich, Plaistow, Thurrock, Staines, Tilbury & Tottenham. For a full list of branches see our branches page. We have 90 years of experience, but we don’t rely on our heritage to offer the best service. The Universal Tyres team are proud to keep ahead of the competition when it comes to industry news. If you’re in need of any advice regarding car tyres and recommended inflation pressure make sure to ask your trusted Universal Tyres technician. Contact us today.